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New research asserts that pioglitazone (Actos) is as much a cardiovascular risk as rosiglitazone (Avandia).

Published in the journal Circulation‚ the study found that patients who take either drug are at 4 percent higher risk of heart attack‚ heart failure‚ or death. Rosiglitazone is currently under consideration to be taken off the market by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration‚ or to be placed under stronger prescribing restrictions. The new study included 36‚000 diabetes patients of an average age of 54 years. Over 33 months‚ including 14 months on either medication‚ 599 patients who took pioglitazone and 602 who took rosiglitazone experienced either a heart attack‚ heart failure‚ both‚ or death‚ with 217 deaths in each group. The rate of 4 percent is “pretty high‚” considering the short study period‚ said Jenny Gunton‚ an endocrinologist at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research who was not involved in the study.

Boston Globe (08/25/10)

Source: http://www.diabetes.org/news-research/news/diabetes-in-the-news/study-links-actos-to-heart.html

Tags: Actos, Heart, Links, Risks, Study

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